A Moroccan crocodile relative’s teeth resemble those of prehistoric filter feeders, suggesting that different reptile groups independently evolved similar tools for catching tiny aquatic prey. A crocodile relative that lived around 170 million years ago had a long, narrow snout lined with exceptionally thin, needle-like teeth. No known close relative has teeth quite like them. […]
Medieval Children Were Exposed to Shocking Levels of Lead, 1,000 Years Before the Industrial Revolution
Children in medieval English mining communities faced lead exposure matching or exceeding that in Industrial Revolution cities, with social standing apparently shaping who bore the greatest burden. Between the 16th and 19th centuries, lead producers in the Derbyshire Peak District of central England repeatedly remelted waste left by Roman and medieval workings. Reusing that material […]
Eating 30% Less Food Has an Unexpected Effect on DNA, Study Finds
A study reveals that calorie restriction affects genetic mutations differently across tissues and regions of DNA. Eating fewer calories may do more than slow certain aspects of aging. Scientists have found that mice consuming 30 percent less food accumulated fewer DNA mutations across several tissues, suggesting that diet can influence how genetic damage builds up […]
Tiny Atomic Defects Reveal a Quantum Secret Hidden Inside an Unusual Metal
Atomic-scale defects in an unusual metal may offer a new way to control quantum states. Scientists at Columbia University have discovered that electron waves can become trapped inside a metal, even when pathways remain available for them to escape. The finding, published in Science, provides the first experimental evidence of a long-predicted quantum phenomenon in […]
Scientists Develop a Clever New Way To Kill Cancer Cells From the Inside
Scientists have developed an experimental strategy that exploits a chemical byproduct of cancer cells to produce anticancer drugs directly inside them. Scientists in Japan have developed an experimental method that uses a chemical produced by cancer cells to manufacture anticancer drugs directly inside them. The approach relies on carbon monoxide, a toxic gas that certain […]
A Single Enzyme Could Hold the Key to Treating a Devastating Brain Disorder
Blocking an enzyme’s production restored brain growth and healthy behaviors in mice engineered to develop Angelman syndrome, pointing to a possible treatment target. Children with Angelman syndrome begin to show difficulties with thinking and movement at around 6 months of age. The rare condition occurs in approximately one in 20,000 births and is caused by […]
Just Two Days on a Vegan Diet Triggered Unexpected Changes in the Liver
Switching from a vegetarian to a vegan diet altered liver metabolism in mice within just two days, making glucose production and toxic waste removal less efficient. Millions of people follow a vegan diet, excluding all animal-derived products. Plant-based eating is recommended in part for its environmental benefits, but the health consequences of getting all dietary […]
Earth’s Magnetic Shield Is Rippling Unevenly – Scientists Have Uncovered the Cause
The solar wind can weaken the very waves it creates along Earth’s magnetic shield, simulations show, helping explain why some regions are more active than others. Earth’s magnetic shield protects the planet, yet particles and energy from the Sun can still find their way through. Along its outer edge, a constant stream of solar material […]
Earth’s Magnetic Shield Is Rippling Unevenly – Scientists Have Uncovered the Cause
The solar wind can weaken the very waves it creates along Earth’s magnetic shield, simulations show, helping explain why some regions are more active than others. Earth’s magnetic shield protects the planet, yet particles and energy from the Sun can still find their way through. Along its outer edge, a constant stream of solar material […]
Earth’s Ice Ages May Have Started With a Planet-Wide Ocean Domino Effect
New research suggests that cooling in the Northern Hemisphere may have triggered far-reaching ocean changes that helped drive Earth’s past ice ages. Growing ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere may have helped push Earth into past ice ages by triggering changes in ocean circulation thousands of miles away, near Antarctica. New research from the University […]